A Permanent List ... There is Nothing Quite Like It!

See also:  [Calendars] [Family Councils] [Planners] [Time Management]

    There are so many reasons to keep permanent lists.  Any time you do an activity once, you are more than likely to do it again.  So why not keep written records the first time, and then add additional notes each and every time you repeat the activity.  Soon you will have the pattern of success down pat.  Whenever the activity repeats itself, you return to your permanent list, review it, and got forward with confidence.

    One way to begin is to find or purchase a 3" x 5" recipe card box.  Label twelve 3" x 5" card dividers with the months of the year.  (You may also wish to label additional dividers according to your personal permanent list needs.  For instance, "Picnics", "Trips", "Gifts Given", and "Guests" dividers have proved helpful to many a homemaker.)  

    Find or purchase 50 white or colored, lined 3" x 5" cards.   Colored cards make lists easy to see and retrieve.  (You may have already set up a 3" x 5" card box to keep your Housecleaning Plan cards in place.  With ease you can now add these additional permanent list cards, under the appropriate months, for holiday and other preparations.) 

    If you are preparing permanent lists for holidays, for example, there should be several cards prepared for each holiday.  Depending on the holidays which you celebrate, they will be entitled:  Holiday Meal, Holiday Traditions, Holiday Decorations, Holiday Shopping, Holiday Preparations (before Holiday), and Holiday Preparations (day of Holiday).  

    For instance, you might celebrate Thanksgiving at your home, so your permanent holidays cards would be entitled (as you prepare for this holiday):  Thanksgiving Meal, Thanksgiving Traditions, Thanksgiving Decorations, Thanksgiving Shopping, Thanksgiving Preparations (before Turkey Day), and Thanksgiving Preparations (on Turkey Day).  

    On each of the cards, list the items particular to that card.  So, on the Thanksgiving Meal card list the menu items you usually prepare for the Thanksgiving meal.  Then on the Thanksgiving Shopping card list all the specialty items needed for Thanksgiving day that you don't regularly have in your pantry or cupboards.  

    On the Thanksgiving Traditions card list the special events which you include on Thanksgiving such as watching football games on TV and giving to the food bank.  This will remind you of those special furniture arrangements you need to make to accommodate company watching football and canned goods which you can be setting aside to contribute.  On the Thanksgiving Decorations card list where the Thanksgiving decorations are stored, where turkey platter is hidden, and where Thanksgiving table napkins are tucked (just one more thing you don't have to keep in your head).  

    On the Thanksgiving Preparations (before Turkey Day) card list the chores you need to do to prepare for Thanksgiving Day (like get out the frozen turkey to thaw in the refrigerator, make and freeze rolls, make up your pies so they can season in the refrigerator, and find your bottled bread and butter pickles).  On the Thanksgiving Preparations (on Turkey Day) card list the activities which will be important when you first get up, those that must be done after lunch, and finally those that you need to finish just before you serve the big evening meal.

    Having these cards prepared, referring to them year after year (and adding occasionally to them as you make mistakes), and being able to prepare for a holiday with confidence and good pacing, .... well, it just takes the hassle, frustration, and worry out of any holiday season.  Try it yourself and soon you will have your own collection of cards for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and any and every other holiday for which you are personally responsible.   Soon you will begin to collect permanent lists for these and many other occasions in your life.  It works, try it!

    Find more helpful ideas in the  "House of Order" Handbook, Chapter 12, "Lists". You may also want to purchase clear, plastic 3" x 5"  index cards slipcovers to keep your lists neat and clean. 

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